Meraki03 at 11:06, 13 March 2026

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{{short description|River in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2013}}
{{use Indian English|date=April 2016}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Sahibi River
| name_other =
| etymology =
| image = Delhi aerial photo 03-2016 img2.jpg
| image_size =
| image_caption =
| image_alt =
| map =
| map_size =
| map_caption =
| map_alt =
| source1_location = [[Aravalli Range]], From Jitgarh, [[Manoharpur]], and Saiwar Protected Forest (PF) hills in Sikar District.
| source1_elevation =
| mouth_location = [[Delhi]]
| mouth_elevation =
| basin_size =
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = [[India]]
| length = {{convert|120|km|abbr=on}}
| discharge1_location= [[Yamuna]] in [[Delhi]]
| discharge1_min =
| discharge1_avg =
| discharge1_max =

| tributaries_right = [[Sota river, Rajasthan|Sota river]], [[Kotkasim drain]], [[Krishnavati river]] and [[Indori river]] (''Indori Nallah''), Dohan River
|tributaries_left = Narayanpur Nala, Surakh Nali, Hajipur Nala, Kasoti Nala, Khar Nali
| waterbodies = [[Masani barrage]], [[Najafgarh drain bird sanctuary| Najafgarh Lake]]
| waterfalls =
| bridges = Masani Bridge on NH-48, Sodawas Bridge on SH-14, Bridge onSH-52, Ajarka Bridge on Rewari-Alwar Railway Line, Pataudi Bridge on Rewari-Delhi Railway Line, Railway Bridge Nangal Pathani.
| ports =
| custom_label =
| custom_data =
| extra =
}}
The '''Sahibi river''', also called the '''Sabi River''', is an [[ephemeral]], rain-fed river flowing through [[Rajasthan]], [[Haryana]] (where its canalised portion is called the "Outfall Drain No 8") and [[Delhi]] states in India.<ref name="AKjain"/> It originates in the eastern slopes of the Saiwar Protected Forest (PF) hills in Sikar District, enters Jaipur district near the foot of these hills, and
after initially flowing southeast and east turns northeastwards near Shahpura and continues further till it exits Rajasthan to enter Haryana and further drains into [[Yamuna]] in [[Delhi]], where its channeled course is also called the [[Najafgarh drain]], which also serves as [[Najafgarh drain bird sanctuary]]. <ref name=mas14>[https://indiariversblog.wordpress.com/2017/04/04/haryana-rivers-profile/#more-235 Haryana rivers profile]</ref><ref name=mas11>[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/ropeway-for-tourist-pull-at-barrage-site/articleshow/57678931.cms Ropeway for tourist pull at barrage site], [[Times of India]]</ref> It flows for 300 km of which 157 km is in Rajasthan 100 km is in Haryana and 40 km in Delhi.

The current and [[paleochannel]]s of Sahibi river have several important wetlands that lie in series, including the [[Masani barrage]] wetland, [[Matanhail#Forest|Matanhail forest]], [[Chhuchhakwas|Chhuchhakwas-Godhari]], [[Khaparwas Wildlife Sanctuary]], [[Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary]], Outfall Drain Number 6 (canalised portion in Haryana of Sahibii river), Outfall Drain Number 8 (canalised portion in Haryana of [[Dohan river]] which is a [[tributary]] of Sahibi river), [[Sarbashirpur]], [[Sultanpur National Park]], [[Basai Wetland]], [[Najafgarh lake]] and [[Najafgarh drain bird sanctuary]], and [[The Lost lake of Gurugram]], all of which are home to endangered and migratory birds, yet largely remain unprotected under extreme threat from the colonisers and builders.

Several [[Ochre Coloured Pottery culture]] sites (also identified as late Harappan phase of [[Indus Valley civilisation]] culture)<ref name=IVCOCP>{{Citation | editor-last = Gupta | editor-first = S.P. | title = The lost Sarasvati and the Indus Civilization | place = Jodhpur | publisher = Kusumanjali Prakashan | year = 1995}}</ref> have been found along the banks of Sahibi river and its tributaries such as [[Krishnavati river]], [[Dohan river]] (originates near [[Neem Ka Thana]] in Alwar district) and Sota River (merges with Sahibi river at [[Behror]] in Alwar district and its canalised portion in Haryana is called the "Outfall Drain No 6").<ref name=culture1>[https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0391023586 Cultural Contours of India: Dr. Satya Prakash Felicitation Volume, Vijai Shankar Śrivastava, 1981]. {{ISBN|0391023586}}</ref> The drainage pattern for all these rivers is [[Drainage system (geomorphology)#Dendritic drainage pattern|dendritic]].

==Geography==
The Sahibi River originates from the eastern slopes of the Saiwar Protected Forest hills in [[Aravalli Range]] near Jitgarh and Manoharpur in [[Sikar district]] of [[Rajasthan]] state. After covering about 157 km distance in the [[Rajasthan]] state. After gathering volume from a hundred [[tributary|tributaries]], the Sahibi River forms a broad stream around [[Alwar]] and [[Kotputli]].

=== Tributaries ===
These west to north-west flowing rivers originate from the western slopes of [[Aravalli range]] in Rajasthan, flow through semi-arid historical [[Shekhawati]] region, drain into southern Haryana.
* Sahibi River, originates near [[Manoharpur]] and [[Neem Ka Thana ]] district flows through Haryana, along with its following tributaries:<ref name=culture1/><ref name="Sahibi1">[http://www.indiamapped.in/revers-in-india/haryana/sahibi-river Sahibi river]</ref><ref name=AKjain>[https://books.google.com/books?id=1PjJD61h8Q0C&q=sahibi+riverGoogle&pg=PA41 Books: Page 41, 42, 43, 44, 47 (b) Sahibi Nadi (River), River Pollution, By A.k.jain]</ref><ref name=Dariba>[https://books.google.com/books?isbn=812460049X Minerals and Metals in Ancient India: Archaeological evidence], Arun Kumar Biswas, Sulekha Biswas, University of Michigan. 1996. {{ISBN|812460049X}}.</ref>
** [[Dohan river]] ([[Kotkasim]] drain), tributary of Sahibi river, originates near [[Neem Ka Thana]] in Sikar division.
** [[Sota River, Rajasthan|Sota River]], is a major tributary of Sahibi river, merges with Sahibi river at [[Behror]] in Kot Behror district.
** [[Krishnavati river]], former tributary of Sahibi river, originates near [[Dariba, Rajasthan|Dariba]] copper mines in [[Rajsamand district]] of Rajasthan, flows through [[Patan, Rajasthan|Patan]] in [[Dausa district]] and Mothooka in [[Alwar district]], then disappears in [[Mahendragarh district]] in [[Haryana]] much before reaching Sahibi river.
**Narainpur Nala carries the drainage of north-west of Bansur Tehsil and drains into Sahibi.
**Surakh Nali from babariya bund in Bansur drains into Sahibi at Sodawas
**Khar Nali drains at Sodawas.
**Kasaoti Nala in Behror drains into Sahibi river.
**Hajipur or Harsora Nala from Bansur drains into Sahibi at Bijwar in Mundawar tehsil.
**[[Indori river]], is also a tributary of Sahibi river
===Basin & Catchment area===

Sabi River Basin is located in the mid north eastern part of Rajasthan. It stretches between 27° 18' 39.13” to 28° 13' 55.10” North
latitude and 76° 58' 21.09’’ to 75° 45' 35.05’’ East longitude. It is bounded in the northwest by Shekhawati River Basin and Ruparail and Banganga River Basins in
the southeast. The northern boundary is shared administratively with Haryana State. The Basin extends over parts of Jaipur Rural and Neem Ka Thana, Kot Behror, Khairthal, Rewari, Jhajjar, Gurugram districts. The total
catchment area of the Basin is 4607.9 km2.

The [[Catchment area (hydrology)|catchment area]] of the Sahibi River encompasses the following cities and towns: [[Sikar]], [[Jaipur]], and [[Kotputli]] in northeastern [[Rajasthan]] state; [[Bawal]], [[Rewari]], [[Pataudi]], and [[Jhajjar district]] in southern [[Haryana]] state; and [[Delhi]] state.

====Rajasthan====
The [[Catchment area (hydrology)|catchment area]] of the Sahibi River in [[Rajasthan]] is {{convert|4523.67|km2|mi2}} of Jaipur, Alwar and Sikar Districts, between latitudes 27°16' and 28°11' and longitudes 75°42' and 76°57'. Sahibi Basin falls in three Districts of Rajasthan namely: [[Alwar district]] (62.11%), [[Jaipur district]] (29.30%) and [[Sikar district]] (8.59%).

Mean Annual Rainfall in Sahibi Basin is 627.60 mm. Highest maximum temperature ranges from 45.45 to 45.99 °C with a mean value of 45.8 °C, while Lowest minimum temperature ranges from 1.64 to 3.14 °C with a mean value of 2.45 °C.

====Haryana====
It leaves [[Rajasthan]] state beyond [[Kotkasim]] in [[Alwar district]] near village Lalpur and covers a total distance of about 222 km up to Dhasa Bund.

It enters [[Haryana]] state at Jhabua, near the city of [[Rewari]] in [[Rewari district]], after which it re-enters first [[Rajasthan]] state near [[Kotkasim]], and then [[Haryana]] again near the village of Jarthal. The dry riverbed near Jarthal is {{convert|2|km|mi}} wide. During light [[monsoon]] rainfall, the river's flat and sandy bottom absorbs all rainwater. [[Masani barrage]] on the river lies near Dahuhera. During heavy rains, the river has defined course up to [[Pataudi]] railway station and branches off into two smaller streams to [[Jhajjar]], finally reaching the outskirts of Delhi through [[Najafgarh drain]] and ending at the [[Yamuna|Yamuna River]].

====Delhi====
{{Main|Najafgarh drain}}
The '''Najafgarh Drain''' or '''Najafgarh Nallah''' (''nullah'' in [[Hindi]] means ''drain'') is another name for the Sahibi River, which continues its flow through Delhi where it is channelised for flood control purposes. It is a tributary to the Yamuna River, into which it flows. The Najafgarh Drain gets its name from the once famous and huge [[Najafgarh Lake]] near the town of [[Najafgarh]] in southwest Delhi. The Najafgarh Drain is the capital's most polluted body of water due to the direct inflow of untreated sewage from surrounding populated areas. Assessing the water quality of wetlands in wildlife habitats, a January 2005 report by the Central Pollution Control Board rated the Najafgarh Drain under category D, along with 13 other highly polluted wetlands.<ref>[http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=138509 Blot across the Capital: Najafgarh most polluted]{{dead link|date=February 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, Sunday, 10 July 2005,[[The Indian Express]]</ref><ref>[http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=118627Environment minister raises a stink over Najafgarh jheel]{{dead link|date=February 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, 22 February 2005, The Indian Express</ref><ref>[http://www.indianexpress.com/news/najafgarh-basin-delhis-most-polluted-area/558870/ Najafgarh basin Delhi's most polluted area], 25 December 2009, The Indian Express</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110912184105/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-12-25/pollution/28101026_1_industrial-clusters-industrial-hubs-najafgarh-drain Najafgarh drain 11th among highly polluted industrial clusters], 25 Dec 2009, The [[Times of India]]</ref><ref>[http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=191225Najafgarh drain causes less pollution in Yamuna now]{{dead link|date=February 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, 4 July 2006, The Indian Express</ref>

Regulators at the Keshopur Bus Depot on the Outer Ring Road are wide with thick and high embankments. A vast amount of water is retained in this widened drain by closing the Kakrola regulators under Najafgarh Road to recharge the local groundwater table.<ref>[http://delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/DoIT_Irrigation/irrigation+and+flood+control/extra2/flood+problem+due+to+sahibi+riverFloodProblemdue to Sahibi River], Department of Irrigation and Flood Control, Government of NCT of Delhi, India. Website Last Updated : 3 May 2010, [http://www.indianexpress.com/Storyold/88045/A sewage drain is now called the Yamuna], By Sonu Jain, 27 March 1999, Indian Express, [http://www.tehelka.com/story_main18.asp?filename=Cr081906Killing_Delhi.asp CRUSADE: Killing Delhi's Lifeline] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130104232039/http://www.tehelka.com/story_main18.asp?filename=Cr081906Killing_Delhi.asp |date=4 January 2013 }}, Charu Soni, 19 Aug 2006, New Delhi. [[Tehelka]],[https://archive.today/20140107054502/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-05/pollution/32055139_1_najafgarh-drain-stormwater-drain-riverRiversutra gone all wrong], By [[Sunita Narain]], 5 Jun 2012, Times of India, [http://www.deccanherald.com/content/236685/better-management-haryana-may-solve.html ‘Better management in Haryana may solve Delhi's water problems’], New Delhi, 22 Mar 2012, DHNS, Deccan herald, [http://www.indianexpress.com/news/sunita-narain-bats-for-sustainable-development/917565/ Sunita Narain bats for sustainable development], Express News Service : Pune, Tue 28 February 2012, The Indian Express</ref>

===Barrages and bridges===
Several bridges cross the Sahibi River. A bridge on State Highway 14 crosses the river between Behror and Sodawas (Behror to Alwar Road). On State Highway 52, a bridge crosses the river between Ajaraka and Dadhiya. The [[Masani barrage]] is also used as the bridge on [[National Highway 919 (India)|NH 919]] which merges with [[National Highway 48 (India)|NH 48]] (Delhi-Jaipur-Mumbai, formerly NH 8) at this barrage near [[Dharuhera]], [[Rewari]].<ref name=masani1>[http://indianexpress.com/article/india/toll-plaza-on-nh-8-to-be-shifted-says-nitin-gadkari/ "Toll plaza on NH 8 to be shifted, says Nitin Gadkari."], [[Indian Express]], 14 August 2017.</ref> Buchara dam is located in Buchara Leopard Sanctuary Kotputli on Sota River , a major tributary. Railway bridges between Ajaraka and [[Bawal]] and near [[Pataudi]] also cross the river. A railway bridge near Nangal Pathani also crosses the river.

==History==
Prior to 1960, the rain-fed Sahibi River entered Delhi near Dhansa and spilled its overflow in the Najafgarh Lake (Jheel) basin, creating a seasonal lake. A vast area more than {{convert|300|km2|mi2}} was submerged in some seasons. In the following decades, the Sahibi River flow reaching Dhansa was channelised by digging a wide drain and connecting it directly to the Yamuna River, completely draining the seasonal Najafgarh Jheel.

The Sahibi River flooded in 1977. In response, the Masani barrage was constructed on Delhi-Jaipur highway near [[Masani]] village, Rewari.<ref>[http://cgwb.gov.in/District_Profile/Haryana/Rewari.pdf Ground Water Information Booklet Rewari District, Haryana], Contributors: Dr. Sunil Kumar, Scientist – ‘B’, Prepared under supervision of Sushil Gupta Regional Director. Our Vision "Water Security through Ground water Management" . Rewari District Haryana, Central Ground Water Board, Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India, North Western Region, CHANDIGARH, 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.haryana-online.com/geography.htm Geography of Haryana] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201121800/http://www.haryana-online.com/geography.htm |date=1 February 2016 }}</ref> Several smaller dams have also been constructed throughout the hills of Rajasthan to store rainwater. The construction of dams has restricted the flow of water on the Sahibi River and it is now rare for water overflow from monsoon rains to reach up the Masani Barrage.

=== Archaeological sites in the area===
[[File:Harrapan period earthen ware from village, Hansaka, Rewari District, Haryana, on the bed of Sahibi River.JPG|thumb|300px|Earthenware (Pottery) found on the Sahibi riverbed by INTACH-Rewari, at Hansaka village, Rewari District, 2012]]
Parts of Rajasthan and Haryana that Sahibi river flows through are arid and have only seasonal monsoon rainfall, in the past river might have held perennial flow as evident by the presence of several sites of the [[Ganeshwar–Jodhpura culture]] on the banks of present-day Sahibi River meanders and its tributaries. Among the finds are handmade and wheel-made pottery dated to 3309–2709 BCE and 2879–2384 BCE found on the banks of the Sahibi River at Jodhpura.<ref name=Pear1/><ref name=MMI1/>

Other findings include pottery found on the Sahibi riverbed at [[Hansaka]] in the [[Rewari district]] by [[INTACH]]-Rewari.<ref name=Pear1/><ref name=MMI1/>

A red stone statue of [[Vamana]] Dev, now displayed at the Shri Krishna Museum, [[Kurukshetra]] was unearthed in 2002 on the Sahibi riverbed near [[Bawal]].<ref name=Pear1/><ref name=MMI1/>

In various other places on Sahibi riverbed, many artifacts have been found, including arrowheads, fishhooks, spearheads, awls, and chisels.<ref name=Pear1>A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India from the stone age to the 12th century, Pearson 2009, page 116</ref><ref name=MMI1>[http://www.indiamapped.com/rivers-in-india/sahibi-river/ India Mapped - Sahibi river]</ref>

=== Identification with Vedic rivers ===
{{See also|Drishadvati river}}
Several modern scholars identify the old [[Ghaggar-Hakra River]] (of which Tangri river is a tributary) as the [[Sarasvati river]] and the Sahibi River with the [[Drishadvati river]] of [[Vedic period]], on the banks of which in the Vedic state of [[Brahmavarta]], [[Indus Valley civilisation|Indus-Sarasvati civilisation]] or Vedic Sanskriti developed. Such scholars include Bhargava<ref>"Location of Brahmavarta and Drishadwati River is important to find earliest alignment of Saraswati River", Sudhir Bhargava, International Conference, 20–22 Nov. 2009, "Saraswati-a perspective" pages 114–117, [[Kurukshetra University]], Kurukshetra, Organised by: Saraswati Nadi Shodh Sansthan, Haryana.</ref> The [[Drishadwati]] River had formed one border of the [[Vedic]] state of [[Brahmavarta]] while other was Saraswati river. This is mentioned in the ''[[Rigveda]]'', the ''[[Manusmriti]]'', and the other Hindu texts as well.

==Ecology==
This is an important part of ecological corridor along the route of Sahibi river which traverses from Aravalli hills in Rajasthan to [[Yamuna]] via [[Masani barrage]], [[Matanhail#Forest|Matanhail forest]], [[Chhuchhakwas|Chhuchhakwas-Godhari]], [[Khaparwas Wildlife Sanctuary]], Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary, Outfall Drain Number 8 and 6, [[Sarbashirpur]], [[Sultanpur National Park]], [[Basai]] and The Lost Lake (Gurugram). It lies 5 km northwest of Bhindawas Bird Sanctuary and 46 km northwest of Sultantpur National Park via road.

===Ecological concerns===
Entire 100 km stretch of Sahibi river and its streams (Sota river, Kotkasim drain and [[Indori river]]) in Haryana are [[Ecological death|ecologically dead]].<ref name=mas14/> [[Gurugram]] also dumps polluted discharge in the riverbed of Sahibi.<ref name=mas14/> In some of its reaches, from Mandawar and [[Kotkasim]] to Haryana border, meandering of the river causes bank erosion.

===Restoration===
[[Government of Haryana]] is coordinating with [[Government of Rajasthan]] to ensure water reaches usually-dry [[Masani barrage]] and dying seasonal Sahibi river. Another government project is being implemented to direct the extra water of Yamuna river during monsoon to Masani barrage through Jawahar Lal Nehru Canal and [[Western Yamuna Canal]] (c. July 2015).<ref name=masani3>[http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/centre-of-aiims-to-come-up-in-rewari-district-khattar-115070400731_1.html "Centre of AIIMS to come up in Rewari district: Khattar ."], [[Business Standard]], 4 July 2015.</ref>

== See also ==
{{div col}}
* [[Saraswati]] river
* [[Dangri]], a tributary of [[Sarsuti]]
* [[Tangri river]], a tributary of [[Sarsuti]], merge if Dangri and Tangri are same
* [[Sarsuti]], a tributary of [[Ghaggar-Hakra River]]
* [[Kaushalya river]], a tributary of [[Ghaggar-Hakra River]]
* [[Chautang]], a tributary of [[Ghaggar-Hakra River]]
* [[Sutlej]], a tributary of [[Indus]]
* [[Ganges]]
* [[Indus]]
* [[Western Yamuna Canal]], branches off [[Yamuna]]
* [[List of rivers of Rajasthan]]
* [[List of rivers of India]]
* [[List of dams and reservoirs in India]]
{{col div end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

=== External links ===
{{commons category|Sarasvati River}}
{{commons category|Ghaggar-Hakra river}}
*[http://www.ucl.ac.uk/~ucgadkw/members/indus.html Sarasvati-Sindhu civilization and Sarasvati River]
*[http://www.gisdevelopment.net/application/archaeology/site/archs0001.htm The Saraswati: Where lies the mystery by Saswati Paik]

{{coord|28|29|N|76|44|E|display=title|region:IN_type:river_source:GNS-enwiki}}

{{Hydrography of Rajasthan}}
{{Hydrography of Haryana}}
{{Waters of South Asia}}
{{Haryana}}

[[Category:Rivers of Haryana]]
[[Category:Rivers of Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Rivers of Delhi]]
[[Category:Tributaries of the Yamuna River]]
[[Category:Yamuna River]]
[[Category:Drainage canals]]
[[Category:Canals in India]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Haryana]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Indus basin]]
[[Category:Indus Valley civilisation sites]]
[[Category:Rigvedic rivers]]

Sahibi River - Revision history

Meraki03 at 11:06, 13 March 2026

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article